Training tower renamed in honor of retiring Fire Chief Pete Bolzer

BROOKINGS Normally when theres a big crowd at a City Council meeting, it means something controversial is about to go down but that wasnt the case Tuesday night.

Instead, this crowd was comprised of dozens of volunteer firefighters from the Brookings Fire Department, and they were there for two things: Chief Pete Bolzer, whos retiring April 30, and the renaming of the training tower at the fire training site in his honor.

The resolution passed on a 6-0 vote, and henceforth it will be called Chief Pete Bolzer Training Tower, aka Petes Place.

Pete has a strong dedication to not only the firefighters he commands, but the whole community he serves, from teaching fire prevention to kids of all ages to teaching firefighters essential firefighting skills, the Brookings Volunteer Firefighters Association wrote in its naming rights nomination form.

A public open house honoring Bolzer will take place at the East Fire Station on April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. The station is on the north side of Sixth Street just east of Burger King. Bolzers emergency services career stretches over 45 years, with the last 25 years spent in Brookings.

Addressing the firefighters, City Manager Paul Briseno said, Many of you probably know how much Pete truly cares, but he cares about each and every one of you and everyone in this community. Pete lives Brookings day in, day out. Theres no time that Pete isnt always thinking about each and every one of you.

Downtown fire update

Deputy City Manager Jacob Meshke provided new insights into the Dec. 30 fire in downtown Brookings that destroyed and displaced businesses and residents:

• 314 Main Ave.: Known as the Grunewaldt Building, its been determined to be structurally sound and is undergoing restoration efforts with a target of being operational this summer.
• 318 Main Ave.: This was Brosts Fashions, where the fire originated. A structural analysis took place last week, and quotes have been solicited for debris removal.
• 320 Main Ave.: Once the home of Seven Songbirds Boutique, the building has been declared a total loss and the process toward demolition is underway. Before that can happen, though, the shared wall with The Exchange, 322 Main Ave., needs to be shored up.
• 322 Main Ave.: A building permit has been issued to The Exchange to shore up the aforementioned shared wall, and a historic preservation review is underway to determine exterior improvements.

Meshke noted that the timeline is fluid and dependent on working through the historic preservation review, demolition and building permits, as well as other processes.

Election canvass

Prior to Tuesday nights study session and regular meetings, councilors examined and signed off on the city/school election results from April 8.

City Clerk Bonnie Foster said 2,702 people voted, adding that there are a total of 18,105 registered voters in the city. That number, she said, is a bit higher than the average of 12,000 to 13,000 registered voters in Brookings, because 2024 was a presidential election year.

Lastly, she told councilors that no provisional or emergency votes took place at any of the four vote centers.

Other business

In other action on Tuesday night, councilors:

• Heard first reading of an ordinance that would remove the more than 50% prepared food sales requirement for businesses with alcohol licenses that want to sell/consume alcoholic beverages on sidewalks and walkways which are adjacent to and abut the building containing the business in question.
• Approved a resolution on a 6-0 vote to initiate the citys annual sidewalk assessment process in regard to repairs. More than 50 properties in the city will be affected by the project a list can be found at https://shorturl.at/Ffbis which is expected to wrap up in the third quarter of this year.
• Gave the go-ahead on a 6-0 vote to adopt fines for violations of the citys flood damage prevention ordinances. Public Works Director John Thompson said FEMA requires this in order for the city to continue participating in National Flood Insurance Program. He also emphasized that the city will work with property owners before moving to fines, which can range from $300 to $500 along with $72.50 in court costs.
• Approved a resolution, 6-0, to acquire land for future improvements at the intersection of 20^th Street South and 22^nd Avenue South. Those land involved is on the northwest corner and totals 7,938 square feet at a cost of $158,522.50. The area is fast developing due to the new Interstate 29 interchange, with traffic skyrocketing. The improvements in the future will make the intersection safer for all traffic, but especially truck traffic.

Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].